In the UK, a new research from the University of Nottingham is leading the way to generate bio-based road paving materials, as an alternative to fossil fuel-based substances.
To reduce the environmental footprint of road construction and reach these net zero targets, researchers from the University of Nottingham’s Transportation Engineering Centre (NTEC)—led by Professor Gordon Airey, Dr Anand Sreeram, and Yongping Hu—collaborated with Professor Abir Al-Tabbaa from the University of Cambridge to develop methods to effectively characterize sustainable bio-based replacements for fossil fuel-based resources.
Increasing environmental concerns and current net zero targets have led academics to consider the need for alternative, sustainable resources as a replacement for fossil fuel-derived bitumen; the primary material used for road construction.
The team evaluated materials, including bio-additives and bitumen, to assess the performance characteristics of the materials, such as low temperature cracking and long-term durability.
The findings indicate that the employed bio-additives enhance low-temperature performance of bitumen by lowering critical temperatures and reducing cracking susceptibility. They also improve fatigue performance by reducing stresses, prolonging fatigue life, and decreasing strain dependency.
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Tags: bio-based materials, UK, University of Nottingham
Category: Research
